Welcome to Esper. A world of metal; and secrets. A world where everything is controlled down to the smallest of clouds. However, with the merging of the shards, Esper is no longer the world it was. So lets see what happens to a world of metal when you add the impulse, and ferocity of nature.

Enigma Sphinx 4WUB
Artifact Creature - Sphinx
Flying
When Enigma Sphinx is put into your graveyard from play, put it into your library third from the top.
Cascade (When you play this spell, remove cards from the top of your library from the game until you remove a nonland card that costs less. You may play it without paying its mana cost. Put the removed cards on the bottom in a random order.)
5/4

AlasterEisaroh's Grade: A-
Now Enigma Sphinx is an interesting card, with the fact it has Cascade which can get you a nonland card with converted mana cost 6 or less. Not only can Enigma Sphinx get you cards, but it also returns itself to the library when it is sent to the graveyard, so you can play it again.

Skrit's Grade: B
At first this guy seemed overcosted for a seven mana rare. Then I realized that your potentially getting a free six mana spell. Still, it's a lot of mana to invest, and your bonus spell could be something terrible like Lush Growth. I'm not sure I'm convinced.

Esper Sojourners WUB
Artifact Creature - Vedalken Wizard
When you cycle Esper Sojourners or it's put into a graveyard from play, you may tap or untap target permanent.
Cycling {2}{U} ({2}{U}, Discard this card: Draw a card.)
2/3

AlasterEisaroh's Grade: C
I'm not a fan of this card's compared to some of the other Sojourners. In limited this card is pretty good, as a combat trick, or as a defender, but outside that I find this card too limited.

Skrit's Grade: D
I agree with AE on this one, and I'll go one further and say this may be the worst Sojourner of the cycle. It's rarely going to be played and it's cycling ability is a very limited combat trick. The ability to tap an opponent's land during their upkeep doesn't rate that highly in my book. The only thing keeping this from complete failure is that it's ability states target permanent. I'm sure somebody can find a way to abuse that.

Etherwrought Page 1WUB
Artifact
At the beginning of your upkeep, choose one - You gain 2 life; or look at the top card of your library, then you may put that card into your graveyard; or each opponent loses 1 life.

AlasterEisaroh's Grade: B
Now I like this card, in multiples it is great. With three options, this card will always be of use to you. I don't see this card making a big spalsh in competitive formats, but in casual play groups, and limited formats it can make a big difference.

Skrit's Grade: C-
I know not to expect much in this set when I pay multiple colors, but Etherwrought Page still seems overcosted. At the multiplayer table the best ability here is almost always going to be each opponent losing 1 life, and I'll admit the others aren't bad options in most duels. Having said that, there are plenty of better options at this cost.

Sen Triplets 2WUB
Legendary Artifact Creature - Human Wizard
At the beginning of your upkeep, choose target opponent. This turn, that player can't play spells or activated abilities and plays with his or her hand revealed. You may play cards from that player's hand this turn.
3/3

AlasterEisaroh's Grade: A+
Sen Triplets effect is great, not only does it stop your opponent from doing stuff on your turn. It lets you play any of the cards in the targeted opponent's hand. So be prepared to see this card a lot in casual playgroups, and maybe in some of the competitive formats.

Skrit's Grade: A+
I agree 100%! Seeing your opponent's hand is nice, and being able to play spells out of it is amazing. This Mythic Rare is well costed for it's body and those effects alone. The one that really sends it over the top for me is that you can use all of your opponents activated abilities as well! Top that off with their inability to play any spells or activated abilities and this card becomes simply insane. I hope I never have the unfortunate privilege of seeing my opponent play one. (Oh wait, too late, I got wrecked by one at the Pre-release.)

Sphinx of the Steel Wind 5WUB
Artifact Creature - Sphinx
Flying, first strike, vigilance, lifelink, protection from red and from green.
6/6

AlasterEisaroh's Grade: A
Akroma is that you? No that's not Akroma, but it seems to be the artifact version of her. Now I'm going to point out a few things here.

1. Sphinx of the Steel Wind isn't legendary.
2. Pro Red, Green makes it immune to most targeted artifact removal in the game.
3. It's an Artifact so you can cheat it into play with Master Transmuter.
So as you can see this card is quite good, and is a welcome addition to Esper's metallic forces.

Skrit's Grade: A
My only complaint is that everyone will forever compare this to Akroma, Angel of Wrath, and we'll never quite feel satisfied. Otherwise, WotC has done a great job giving us a monster that will eat most anything, and doesn't even blink at 90% of the removal that opponent's are going to want to play against it.

Arsenal Thresher 2(W/B)U
Artifact Creature - Construct
As Arsenal Thresher comes into play, you may reveal any number of other artifact cards from your hand. Arsenal Thresher comes into play with a +1/+1 counter on it for each card revealed this way.
2/2

AlasterEisaroh's Grade: B
This card basically reads "Amplify Artifact", but even with that you have to reveal your hand to get any real use out of this card. Which can be dangerous for you since your opponent will know what you have. Even with that downside, this thing can potentially be a 9/9 (or bigger) when played if you are playing an artifact based deck, and lets face it: if you are playing with Arsenal Thresher, you are playing an artifact based deck.

Skrit's Grade: C
When it's played there's almost no way this is coming into play as a 2/2, but the decks it will work well in are few and far between. Even most artifact decks have a bunch of non-artifact card drawing and utility cards thrown in, so it's still not going to be utilized to its full potential. On average it's probably going to be a 4/4 for 4, and you'll have to show your opponent some of your hand. I just can't get that excited about it.

Esper Stormblade (W/B)U
Artifact Creature - Vedalken Wizard
As long as you control another multicolored permanent, Esper Stormblade gets +1/+1 and has flying.
2/1

AlasterEisaroh's Grade: B
A potential 3/2 for two mana is nothing to sneeze at, and since it gains flying it is one of the best Shardblade creatures. Also with the fact it is an Artifact it helps with Esper decks. So all in all it's a solid creature, as long as you have the multicoloured permanents to support it.

Skrit's Grade: A
I will go so far as to say this IS the best Shardblade creature (is that what we're calling them now?). I know Jund Hackblade has been getting a lot of buzz and Haste is nice and all, but after that turn, it's just one more creature tied to the ground. Give me wings any day!

Thopter Foundry (W/B)U
Artifact
{1}, Sacrifice a nontoken artifact: Put a 1/1 blue Thopter artifact creature token with flying into play. You gain 1 life.

AlasterEisaroh's Grade: B
This card is both good, and annoying, as your opponent tries to destroy your creatures, you can just sacrifice them and make more as long as they are Nontoken Artifact Creatures. So all in all this is a nice card that can turn you big threat into a small annoying threat, if that big threat is going to be destroyed that is.

Skrit's Grade: B+
This is very well costed for the effect, but at this price point, you may want something else. Still, it does make losing your creatures less painful, even if all they are coming back as 1/1 tokens. Of course, that means your Master of Etherium isn't getting any smaller either...

Identity Crisis 2WWBB
Sorcery
Remove all cards in target player's hand and graveyard from the game.

AlasterEisaroh's Grade: C
The effect on this card is awesome, but by the time you get to play it, how many cards will your opponent have in their hand? This card is situational at best, but the situations its useful in are the same ones where it will most likely get countered. As Control is the main deck type that this card will work against.

Skrit's Grade: B-
While this is potentially devastating against a deck that relies on the graveyard, be that dredge, reanimator, or even unearth, I think overall it's often going to be too unreliable to want to maindeck. Further, I agree with AE that the hand stripping will rarely be relevant. Overall though, it's a reasonable cost for a reasonable effect, and it does have some target decks that it will wreck.

Necromancer's Covenant 3WBB
Enchantment
When Necromancer's Covenant comes into play, remove all creature cards in target player's graveyard from the game, then put a 2/2 black Zombie creature token into play for each card removed this way. Zombies you control have lifelink.

AlasterEisaroh's Grade: B
First of all this card is too dependent on what is in the graveyard to get anything big from it. I maybe wrong, but I just think this card is too much work, for little pay out.

Skrit's Grade: A
Although I tend to agree with AE, I'm actually pretty excited about this. I know it would be the top of the curve for most zombie decks, but I say, dig out your old zombie decks, toss in your unearthing zombies, and don't forget to season well with your new Death Barrons and let's go!

Tainted Sigil 1WB
Artifact
{T}, Sacrifice Tainted Sigil: You gain life equal to the total life lost by all players this turn. (Damage causes loss of life.)

AlasterEisaroh's Grade: C
Another card that takes a lot of work to get anything big from it, but nonetheless this card can save you if used right. Although in the end using this card just isn't worth it.

Skrit's Grade: A-
I have to disagree. I see a lot of potential in this card, and I'm excited to play him in multiplayer. Having it around when somebody kills a Kokusho (or two), plays a Flame Rift, or just swings for big damage makes this card pure gold. Topping that off with no mana cost for the activation makes this guy a keeper.

Vectis Dominator 1WB
Artifact Creature - Human Wizard
{T}: Tap target creature unless its controller pays 2 life.
0/2

AlasterEisaroh's Grade: B
This is a fun card, I like cards like this where your opponent chooses which form of punishment they are going to take. Be it tapping there biggest creature so you can go in for massive creature damage, or slowly take them down in life.

Skrit's Grade: B-
I with AE on this one, this card is going to be a hit at the casual table, where it's a lot of fun for you, and a headache for your opponent. I would have loved to see it at 1/2 though, to give it some use when your opponent doesn't have any creatures in play.

Zealous Persecution WB
Instant
Until end of turn, creatures you control get +1/+1 and creatures your opponents control get -1/-1.

AlasterEisaroh's Grade: A
Now this is the kind of card weenie decks love, as it gives your creatures a 2 point advantage over the opponents creatures, and can destroy other weenie decks. This card can also help you to sneak in those few extra points of damage needed to win the game.

Skrit's Grade: A+
Wow! Only two mana? That's great bang for your buck. Remember that in the recent past, just one half of this card (all creatures +1/+1) cost around two mana. There isn't even a good direct comparison for the -1/-1, but it's around two as well. This spell closely mimics Conflux's Sigil Blessing, but is way better. 1/1 tokens dead? Check. Buff everybody on your side? Check. Debuff all your opponent's creatures? Check. As AE pointed out, that's a 2 point difference for creatures one on one, making this one of the best combat tricks in some time.

Blitz Hellion 3RG
Creature - Hellion
Trample, Haste
At end of turn, Blitz Hellion's owner shuffles it into his or her library.
7/7

Skrit's Grade: B+
This is an obvious monster in Limited, where having it return to your library from play is great when playing with a small library. I'm less convinced of it's usefulness in Constructed. Personally, if I'm going to invest that much mana, I like to have the threat stick around for more than one turn. Yes, it is huge, and taking a third of your opponent's life total is great. Yes, it still goes back to your library. But for either of those things to happen it has to actually enter play. What is the chance your opponent isn't holding a counterspell? Huge creature, well-costed with a reasonable drawback, but just not enough for top marks.

AlasterEisaroh's Grade: B
I generally agree with Skrit here, however I feel that in a casual group this thing with be feared. After all, a 7/7 for 5 mana is great, even more so if you use this card with pump spells, or cards like Dual Nature, and Wild Pair.

Bloodbraid Elf 2RG
Creature - Elf Berserker
Haste
Cascade (When you play this spell, remove cards from the top of your library from the game until you remove a nonland card that costs less. You may play it without paying its mana cost. Put the removed cards on the bottom in a random order.)
3/2

Skrit's Grade: A-
An awesome hasty threat. The best direct comparison is probably Vulshok Berserker, at common. For the increase to uncommon you get one free spell of CMC 3 or less. Is that the best deal ever? I guess it depends on how your deck is built. The right deck could abuse the heck out of this, but most of the time it's going to be a bit unpredictable.

AlasterEisaroh's Grade: A
This is perhaps the best of the Cascade cards, if the right deck you can get cards like Blightning, or Terminate from it, just to name a few. After all, most of the best cards in Standard right now cost 3 or less.

Colossal Might RG
Instant
Target creature gets +4/+2 and gains trample until end of turn.

Skrit's Grade: A+
I'm loving this card. It still has some value when played on a blocker as a combat trick, and it outshines typical creature buff like Giant Growth with the extra point of damage and trample. I'm not sure what color is paying for which feature in this card, but I'll take all of it.

AlasterEisaroh's Grade: B
I'm not as stoked about this card as Skrit is. Maybe because I prefer my pumps to be equal in both Power, and Toughness. However, all in all, this is a good card.

Deadshot Minotaur 3RG
Creature - Minotaur
When Deadshot Minotaur comes into play, it deals 3 damage to target creature with flying. Cycling {(r/g)} ({(r/g)}, Discard this card: Draw a card.)
3/4

Skrit's Grade: C+
This card seems more like Limited filler than much else. I'm not excited about it's cost, although I'm sure that's intended to make up for the one mana cycling ability, which is something a card like this needs. The ability to hit a flyer for 3 is nice, and it's four toughness will be appreciated in any burn heavy meta.

AlasterEisaroh's Grade: C
I agree with what Skrit said, this card is situational at best, but at least it has Cycling so you aren't stuck with it with it if you start the game with it.

Dragon Broodmother 2RRRG
Creature - Dragon
Flying At the beginning of each upkeep, put a 1/1 red and green Dragon creature token with flying and devour 2 into play. (As the token comes into play, you may sacrifice any number of creatures. It comes into play with twice that many +1/+1 counters on it.)
4/4

Skrit's Grade: B-
Ah, the pre-release foil. I think there's a reason they chose to hand out tons of these, and it's not because it's such a great card. It flies and has a token generating ability, but somehow, for a Mythic Rare I was expecting something better. Your really just getting a 1/1 every turn, that after a few turns you can "trade up" by devouring your previous tokens. Then again, I've always thought the devour mechanic seemed too much like putting all your eggs in one basket.

AlasterEisaroh's Grade: A
Verdant Force with wings, that makes hungry Saprolings with wings. This card is built for multiplayer, and with that being said, just think of how big of a Dragon Token you can have at the start of each of your turns. with 3 players you have a 5/5, 4 gives you a 7/7, and so on. I highly expect this card to be seen in a lot of in casual games.

Skrit:
OK, I totally missed the "every upkeep" the first time around. AE's right, this is a five star multiplayer card. I still don't like devour that much, but with the potential for a ton of tokens each pass around the table, I have to revise that grade.. A!

Firewild Borderpost 1RG
Artifact
You may pay {1} and return a basic land you control to its owner's hand rather than pay Firewild Borderpost's mana cost.
Firewild Borderpost comes into play tapped.
{T}: Add {R} or {G} to your mana pool.

Skrit's Grade: D+
Part of a cycle of artifacts that are half color fixing and half mana acceleration. It's defiantly better at the color fixing half of it's personality, as five mana on turn four is barely 'acceleration'. This probably fills a needed roll in Limited, but there's far better options outside this set.

AlasterEisaroh's Grade: B
I like this Cycle. Sure I like the Fieldmist, and Mistvein ones more, because they are better suited for Esper builds, but as for the Firewild one I don't really see much use out of it. Sure in casual it will probably be played, but other than that I don't see much where it would be useful.

Godtracker of Jund 1RG
Creature - Elf Shaman
Whenever a creature with power 5 or greater comes into play under your control, you may put a +1/+1 counter on Godtracker of Jund.
2/2

Skrit's Grade: F
An interesting little elf, with some added power as the game goes longer. Unfortunately, its too little, too late. How many creatures with power five or greater do most decks actually get to play while this fella is in play? My guess? Not enough to matter.

AlasterEisaroh's Grade: C
Now I'm not going to as mean as Skrit was, but this card, is limited to 5 power matters decks, and in those decks you want to be dropping Woolly Thoctar, and not this elf. I'm not going to completely discredit it, because in decks not running low cost fatties, this thing could see some use.

Gorger Wurm 3RG
Creature - Wurm
Devour 1 (As this comes into play, you may sacrifice any number of creatures. This creature comes into play with that many +1/+1 counters on it.)
5/5

Skrit's Grade: C
This guy has a cost to match his body, and the color splash gives him a solid ability to fill out the top end of a Jund Deck. I don't have any complaints. Then again, I don't have much praise either. There are probably better options at this cost point.

AlasterEisaroh's Grade: C
I agree with Skrit on this one. It comes into play as a 5/5, with the chance to become bigger. Sure its no Gluttonous Slime, but still it isn't bad.

Mage Slayer 1RG
Artifact - Equipment
Whenever equipped creature attacks, it deals damage equal to its power to defending player. Equip {3}

Skrit's Grade: A-
This equipment may seem overcosted at first, but remember that it sticks around after the creature carrying dies off. No, the first swing you make with it may not seem life threatening, but each swing there after, as it gets attached to larger and larger creatures will see your opponent's life points dwindling. The best part? The creature doesn't need to connect, it doesn't even need to deal combat damage. Just announce attackers and POW!

AlasterEisaroh's Grade: A
This card is just brutal. 6 mana may be a lot of mana for some extra damage, but that extra damage can be extremely effective if used right. Like say with a Firebreather like Avatar of Fury. Or maybe some other power boosting cards.

Predatory Advantage 3RG
Enchantment
At the end of each opponent's turn, if that player didn't play a creature spell this turn, put a 2/2 green Lizard creature token into play.

Skrit's Grade: C+
While this may seem scary to your typical control deck, Esper has little to fear from this Enchantment. Most Esper decks are busy pumping out flying artifact creatures, and aren't going to worry about a 2/2 on the few turns they aren't casting a creature spell. On the other hand, in Limited, where every creature on the board counts, this is a beast of a virtual card advantage machine. In the casual world, this could be a multiplayer nightmare, where you're very likely to get multiple creatures before your next turn comes around. Overrun, I'm looking at you...

AlasterEisaroh's Grade: B
This card just simply destroys Control decks, and is a beast in multiplayer. With a Jund deck, this card can really boost the effectiveness of your devouring. Or just just give you some 2/2's to beat down with.

Rhox Brute 2RG
Creature - Rhino Warrior
4/4

Skrit's Grade: C
As a fairly costed 4/4 for four mana, this vanilla creature would make a fine addition to any Tribal – Rhino deck. Otherwise, it’s a bit bland. I would have though that the color requirement would have gotten you a bit more than a +1/+1 Hill Giant, but at common, it’s not a bad deal. In another set, this would be a bit below expectations for a common with multiple color requirements, but for Alara Reborn, this is the definition of average.

AlasterEisaroh's Grade: C
See above. I'd rather not pay 4 for a 4/4 creature with no effect, in most of my decks, 4 mana has so many better uses. However, in limited formats this card can be quite good, as 4/4's are generally hard to kill early on.

Spellbreaker Behemoth 1RGG
Creature - Beast
Spellbreaker Behemoth can't be countered. Creature spells you control with power 5 or greater can't be countered.
5/5

Skrit's Grade: A+
Now here's a card that knows what it's doing! An efficient beater that's guaranteed to hit play, this is a Blue player's worst nightmare. This creature makes all your future investments in bulky creatures completely foolproof. At least until actual creature removal and bounce gets figured in.

AlasterEisaroh's Grade: A
What the heck! This card is nuts! Against control, this cards just sits there laughing, while protecting all your other creatures with power 5 or greater from counterspells.

Valley Rannet 4RG
Creature - Beast
Mountaincycling {2}, forestcycling {2} ({2}, Discard this card: Search your library for a Mountain or Forest card, reveal it, and put it into your hand. Then shuffle your library.)
6/3

Skrit's Grade: B-
Part of a cycle of cycling creatures, in my opinion it is second only to the GW Pale Recluse. It's power and toughness leave little to be desired for an aggressive deck. It's only drawback is that the extra power comes at the cost of loosing the extra ability featured in the rest of this cycle.

AlasterEisaroh's Grade: C
Arg! I generally don't like this cycle. The only stand out from it is the Pale Recluse, just like Skrit said. I felt this card, and the others are best kept to limited.

Vengeful Rebirth 4RG
Sorcery
Return target card from your graveyard to your hand. If you return a nonland card to your hand this way, Vengeful Rebirth deals damage equal to that card's converted mana cost to target creature or player. Remove Vengeful Rebirth from the game.

Skrit's Grade: B+
The high cost is the only thing holding this card back from a higher grade, where at five mana it would have been a killer. I can't wait to play this on a cycled Fiery Fall and play the returned card the next turn.

AlasterEisaroh's Grade: A
I like this card, but I feel it is slightly too expensive to play. Even with that, this card can do some nice damage, and bring you back a card to play it again.

Violent Outburst 1RG
Instant
Cascade (When you play this spell, remove cards from the top of your library from the game until you remove a nonland card that costs less. You may play it without paying its mana cost. Put the removed cards on the bottom in a random order.) Creatures you control get +1/+0 until end of turn.

Skrit's Grade: B-
Although it's not the best cascade spell out there, it's actually costed about right. You have to go back to Haze of Rage from Futuresight to get a similar card at a cheaper cost. It's even possible the small buff to all your creatures may be worth the mana cost. Yes, you get a free spell, but as I said before, it's going to be hit or miss. Pray for those Terminates, people.

AlasterEisaroh's Grade: B
This is the kind of card you want if you are running a lot of First strikers, and it also has Cascade. Although, unlike Bloodbraid Elf, there aren't as many cards it can dig for in Standard. As I see it, this card will most likely be a casual favourite.

Vithian Renegades 1RG
Creature - Human Shaman
When Vithian Renegades comes into play, destroy target artifact.
3/2

Skrit's Grade: C+
A reasonable body for a Red creature at this cost, with an ability that also seems Red oriented. Where's the Green in this creature? I'm not seeing it. Maybe it's hidden in the MDV Forums. I'll have to look.

AlasterEisaroh's Grade: B
A 3/2 for 3 is not to shabby, and with it's built in Shatter/Oxidize this card can be a real pain for Artifact decks. So Esper better be wary of this Shaman.

So that's it! We've walked through all of the clearly Esper cards in the set, and also spent some time on Esper's enemies. Of the cards reviewed, things seem to be skewed towards the good side. There weren't too many lowly rated cards, although Skrit clearly thinks Godtracker of Jund is garbage. AE, on the other hand, thinks there may be some potential there, even if only for 5 power matters decks. Otherwise, the next poor card on the list is probably Esper Sojourners, which may compare poorly to it's cycle, but isn't all that terrible.

There were, however, a bucket full of highly rated cards, that both authors agree on. Sen Triplets, Sphinx of the Steel Wind, and Zealous Persecution are all stand out cards for Esper. Even Esper's sworn enemies have some great offerings like Spellbreaker Behemoth, Bloodbraid Elf, and Mage Slayer.

So what do you think? The Esper world is complete, and our reviews are in. Are we mentally well balanced, or just plain nuts? Either way, we want to hear all about it, so head on over to the forums and give us an earful.

Thanks for reading!

- AlasterEisaroh and Skrit

You can discuss this article in the MDV forums here.
Find other articles by AlasterEisaroh here.
Find other articles by Skrit here.
Find other articles from this series here.

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